Five Chelsea stars fighting for their future including Michy Batshuayi, Cesc Fabregas and Victor Moses
Football Whispers picks out five men who could be offloaded by Antonio Conte this summer
WHEN you are on top at any sport or business, you need to strengthen in a position of power.
With a nine point lead at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will be able to do that this summer.
It’s not always just about selling players and getting rid of deadwood, you have to add to your squad and provide competition for places.
Chelsea news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
have picked out five Chelsea players that are fighting for their future at Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer transfer window.
And here's the men who Conte could offload tat the end of the season:
Michy Batshuayi
Fifteen league appearances and just one goal is not a great return for any striker, however, the Belgian forward hasn’t been handed a single Premier League start under Conte since joining in the summer.
In all competitions, he has seven goals and three assists and Chelsea fans have been given a glimpse into what the former Olympique de Marseille hit-man can provide.
Related Stories
Conte doesn’t see him as a direct replacement for Diego Costa and if the Spaniard’s future is in doubt, the 23-year-old, must, both in games and training, show the Italian that he is the forward to spearhead the attack.
It’s more likely that Chelsea will dip into the market for another striker if Costa does move on this summer.
Cesc Fabregas
Despite playing a bit-part role under Conte this season, Cesc Fabregas actually leads the Blues in assists. In 15 appearances, five of them from the start, he has scored twice and set up six goals in the Premier League.
However, at 29 years old, he will undoubtedly want more from the final years of his career. It seems like only yesterday that he was a fresh-faced teenager playing for Arsenal. Now, the slower leagues like Italy and Spain will appeal to him. Conte has been linked with a whole host of midfielders, that will ultimately push Fabregas out the Stamford Bridge door.
Nemanja Matic
In a similar situation to Fabregas, Nemanja Matic must wonder about his future at the London club too. He is level with the Spaniard in terms of assists with six, more than anyone else in the regular starting XI, but with names such as Arturo Vidal, Radja Nainggolan and Marco Verratti regularly linked with a move to Chelsea, Matic’s place is under-threat.
He doesn’t lead the team in any of the defensive statistical categories, but it’s his overall game that complements what N’Golo Kante does. The Serbian needs to show his boss that he is not just important, but irreplaceable.
Victor Moses
The former Wigan Athletic and Liverpool winger has been superbly transformed under Conte this season. Going from an outsider to a potential Player of the Year is a wonderful achievement for Moses.
Yet, despite his three goals and two assists in 18 starts, his place will still be under-threat this summer.
Not only will the Italian manager want another wing-back to compliment his squad, he will be looking for someone with Champions League quality and the ability to push straight into the team.
Anyone with the natural ability at full-back will be a threat to Moses’ place in the starting XI.
Kurt Zouma
After a long lay-off with injury, French centre-back, Kurt Zouma, made his return to first-team action, with his first start of the season against Arsenal.
The trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have been immense this season, with Zouma’s fellow Frenchman a candidate for one of the league’s best performers.
Constantly linked with other big names defenders like Diego Godin, Leonardo Bonucci and Leandro Romagnoli, the 22-year-old will need to grab any opportunity he can over the remaining fixtures this season, showing Conte that he is good enough to blossom in this team and command a place, not just a future at Stamford Bridge.
It’s unlikely that Chelsea will sell any time soon, but a loan spell away from London could be on the cards.